plate no. 1765

The Boys’ Workhouse, Helsinki

oilRealismgenre paintingfigurestableinteriorwindowclothingtools

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in painting figures in a realistic style and capturing the subtle variations in light and shadow within an interior scene. It also provides practice in rendering textures of clothing and wooden surfaces.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and placement of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the large shapes and areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Establish the background and the light source coming from the window.
step 04
Start refining the figures, paying attention to the proportions and anatomical details.
step 05
Develop the details on the table, including the tools and materials.
step 06
Refine the clothing folds and textures, using layering and glazing techniques.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors. Use glazes of diluted colors to create subtle variations and depth.

techniques